I  have mixed feelings today.

I'm happy that it's Friday. And that I have a girls outing tonight with some cousins and friends to finalize the baby shower plans for my sister on Sunday. But I was caught in the middle of some crazy stuff at work that has done nothing but so far drive me pretty much bonkers at this point. Because Dr. B did something terrible and shady (albeit innocent ...yeah perhaps) and I felt responsible because it happened IN MY PROJECT. I hope I don't get in trouble. I'm about to curl away in a corner, rocking back and forth while holding my breath until the person who gave me the project by some Divine Intervention decides to cut some slack and announce that I have earned back my birthright to breathe. Whew! Seriously.

But perhaps it's the weather. It's gotten cold and grey and it even started raining outside. I'm not complaining. California weather still rocks, no matter what. This kind of scarf-jacket-n-boots weather aside from the fashion factor it brings, appeals greatly to me because it signals the coming of the 12th month which is a coming together of sorts of the most important celebrations in my life. And of course, Christmas!!!

I have one month left to pace myself -- holiday planning, shopping Christmas presents, yadadada.  It's actually the 4th year for me to attempt doing the bulk of Christmas shopping online. I usually end up bearing the brunt of actual legwork and lugging those shopping bags around. Though I hope this year finds me with more resting time by really, finally ordering presents online and having them shipped to my house or work (if I'm still not in trouble enough!).

So far, we've gotten my bro-in-law something from his wishlist (a Timex from Zappos) which is funny because he even called my hubby about it. That or something we could get from Costco (not sure if it was a Timex). Costco wha'? Not that I have anything against it. I love Costco. But internet convenience came first, so we decided to get it once and for all.

And the funny thing too was... I just mentioned in my previous posts that I wanted to get my sister a pair of red eyeglasses.  Guess what! She and her hubby came over at our house last night to take their showers because they are still in the middle of two major and simultaneous bathroom renovations and that's when her eyeglasses decided to go kaput on her. She -- who has the 24/7 need to wear it. And she -- who astoundingly doesn't keep a spare!  I would keep 10 if my life depended on it! Anyway, she walked out of our house with one that's taped up good by hubby with good ol' reliable 3M transparents. Hehehe.  Am I a psychic or what!?!

And oh, hubby's 60 million relatives. And mine.

So there, yeah, Christmas is just around the corner, once again speeding by and whizzing past me soon.  Meanwhile, I'll just treasure the cold air, the twinkling lights and the sound of Paul Potts (my holiday tradition) in my car as I drive back home in the dark from the busy malls.

Didn't I just say I'll start shopping online?

Some things never change.

How is it possible that last night we couldn't find the garage door opener in my car and I found it inside my purse today -- when I haven't really driven that car for the past couple of days because hubby and I switched cars so I've been driving hubby's car and the last time I was in my car was when hubby was driving it on a trip to the grocery and I was in the passenger seat and didn't have my purse with me -- only my iPhone inside the pocket of my sweater, and we still remember closing the garage door with it.

*Twilight zone!*

Two months without that ever-proverbial cuppa Joe in the morning (and all day)! And I don't feel like I'm missing anything!

*Pat on the back*

One week of meals with no rice (except for that one darn super burrito with chicharrones).

*Another pat on the back*, a huge one!!!

I'm in dire need of a manicure.

I miss Mommy and Daddy to bits!!!!!!

Zero backlog at work.

Cooking Hiananese Chicken tonight? Hmmmmmmm......

I'm getting tired of FaceBook.

Can't wait to go home and play Bejeweled in our PS3. *new addiction*

and yeah,

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, SESAME STREET!

Got this email from hubby today. *-*

You won't believe what hubby just bought today!

A TURKEY! Yup, one whole 10 lb frozen turkey for Thanksgiving. He's so excited about hosting this year's Thanksgiving again for family.  This will be our second one at home, and my stepdaughter will be in town and that makes it even more special.

I can't believe how fast time flies. I know that some time ago, on the last heel of summer, I just said that Thanksgiving will be here soon. True enough, it's just around the corner again. I'm happy that we celebrated last year with my mother-in-law before she passed away last August.

And then it's going to be Christmas soon! Hubby's already planning about picking our fresh tree for this year. I prefer a smaller one this time. And alas, yes, Christmas shopping! This year, we talked about penny-pinching with our presents among ourselves. The less expensive, the more practical, the better--the winner! I'm thinking of getting my sister some Holiday Fun Eyeglasses since she pretty much needs eyeglasses 24/7 except when she's asleep, and she can't wear contact lenses. I'm already checking the New Arrivals online before they run out. I like Zenni Optical because they even have $8 Prescription Zenni Glasses.   How sweet is that! Check this out, I know my sister will love it:

I picked this because she adores red.

And for my other cousins, nieces and nephews....I'm thinking of some personalized shirts and other gift items from my new online store.Tell you more about it next time!

I'm going to watch Khloe Kardashian's wedding now. Luv her!!!

I don't! But I'm hoping to finally see This Is It the film. I'm been longing to see it but hubby's not totally sold yet.  Not because of Michael Jackson, but going to the movies per se.  But I'm still gonna try my best, use my charm, twist his arm, take him by the ear hahaha, to be able to see this.  This is history. Don't you want to be part of it too? (Plus, er, well, uhm, yeah...I'm a fan too)

I'll be the first one to buy it when it comes out on DVD.  Meanwhile, I'd settle for CD. Here's the link and I hope it helps.

 And come on, I know you want one too!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, Y'ALL! And don't forget to BE IN THE MOMENT!!!  Think about the This Is It film.

BUSY

So busy that I didn't even notice the hours fly by.

BUT I'M NOT COMPAINING!

A lot of people are pining for an opportunity to find a job, I am deep into one. Actually, several. I just soft-launched an online shop for themed shirts and gift items, I'm working on a children's book that has been long overdue. I'm putting a collection of my wine and coffee paintings for an exhibit next year-- and some business opportunities on the side in connection with my paintings like  prints and note cards, etc. Sometimes I don't know where my head is. But it's supposed to be good, right?

I read in a career advice website last night that we must look up to the Parthenon in Greece as a model in our worklife. Because the reason why it's still standing after eons is because of the many pillars that supports it. It makes sense, right? If one of the sources of your bread and butter collapses, there is nothing to worry about because something else will catch the weight.

I like this job search site already, because it just reaffirmed my philosophies in life. 

At 36, I am still evolving and discovering more and more things that I want to be when I grow up. Now that my stepdaughter is going to college next year, I will make sure to impart this philosophy to her because I want her future secured.

How about you? What else do you want to be when you grow up?

This has become a grievance board of sorts for my health issues. Pardon me! *LOL* But your blogger here is not getting any younger and there are occasional kinks with my body that were totally unheard of in the past.  That, or I have a clinical obsession to collect tiny health issues as if these were the current fashion trend. Yeah, I have a pair of Gucci arthritis, and some Louis Vuitton headaches.  *duh*

The highlight of my morning was waking up to a stiff neck that recurs intermittently.  This is one of those days. My two shoulders were so frozen I thought I couldn't make it to work.  I applied my electrode patches for half an hour while laying down on my stomach and felt a tad better to a degree of "functional".

And here are the ammos I brought to work today:

HOMEDICS handheld massager, Tylenol, Magic Touch portable electrode patches, Hotshotz sodium acetate instant heat packs.

This tells me that I'm still as stressed as ever.

I need to think happy thoughts real quick. Happy thoughts! Happy thoughts!

So anyway, I'm happy with the time "falling back".  That means, I'm going to start witnessing the sunsets on my trek back home from work. Yippy!

We just got home from my niece's first birthday party. It was so much fun!!! Perfect size, perfect food, perfect! She's dressed up as a bumblebee and there were cute fuzzy stuffed toy smiley flowers everywhere. 

We wanted to enjoy the extra hour so we went home to relax (feeling as though it is still early haha, well it is) but then lo and behold, we found some documents in the mail regarding some of hubby's family's estate affairs and so here comes another headache. Some people,cer, siblings just can'tget enough.  Anyway, some people just don't know enough. Well, bless their hearts.  But here's the frou-way test (again!) for those who just don't get it:

Of the things we think, say or do...Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

But I don't want to lose anymore hair on anything stressful so I'll just leave it up to God.  I believe that things will work out

In the meantime, I will just rest and watch TV if only hubby can stop watching the Poker show (why do these men play on TV when they can play online gambling?) but that's them, hubby only watches. And if I get lucky, he changes the channel and stops at another interesting show. I usually have my nose caught in my laptop anyway as I type away stuff on blogs or surfing for things I need to know more about. Which reminds me, I just found a site for...(you must be thinking that I've been looking for online slots, hmmm) well, I've been looking for site to help hubby's estate legal affairs because as far as we're concerned, some people are imposing stress on us that were uncalled for. And haha, guess what, I thought I could watch TV and forget about it. I just hate it when some people simply don't get it.

And if I end up doing the slots and win something. I promise I won't be selfish. I don't want to be like them!!!

As the yearly tradition goes, we dressed up for Halloween at work. We all love playing dress up, but we all hate spending on costumes.  We all have a passion for being creative with what we already have.  Or at least make stuff from scratch. I still believe that it is the whole point of the occasion. Here are some of the photos they took of me from my iPhone, I'll post the rest later tonight (with the other peeps who dressed up) when I get home as I need to download them from my camera.

Here's how not to spend anything for a costume -- all my existing clothes put together:

Halloween or any costume party for that matter, remains to be a convenient venue to achieve some of the dreams that we feel we will never reach. Or at least, to be something or someone we wish we are (too).  I was an equestrian today.  That's enough for me to scratch off my bucket list!  So I'm off to the next one...

For other tips, please visit my other site.  Click on Mr. Horsie's picture below:

(I made him from scratch!)

What do you want to be?